Hamlet

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   mwestwood Teacher
   Community / Jr. College

   In "Hamlet," after the prince has learned that his uncle has killed his father in order to marry his mother and become king, Hamlet is faced with a moral dilemma:  He does not know whether to serve justice, as urged by his father's ghost, in this corrupt world without sacrificing his moral integrity. ("To be or not to be")

   Claudius and Gertrude seek the reason for Hamlet's "madness"; the king plans to send Hamlet to England.  Meanwhile, Hamlet exposes the king's guilt with a play.  But, Hamlet delays killing Claudius who is at prayer, and accidentally drives his sword through Polonius whom he mistakes for the king.  Ophelia, the daughter, goes insane after Hamlet leaves for England where he is to be killed, but the prince rewrites the letters to have two others killed instead. Ophelia dies and Laertes returns, throws himself upon her casket, asking to be buried with her.

   The climax is In Act V, Scene ii: Claudius invites Hamlet to fence with Laertes; Hamlet accepts, saying "readiness is all," and maintaining his belief in fate.  Gertrude drinks from a poisoned cup intended for Hamlet. Hamlet and Laertes exchange rapiers; with a poisoned tip on the foil of Hamlet, Laertes, dying tells him, "The king's to blame."  Hamlet turns the foil on Claudius. 

   In the resolution Hamlet drinks from the cup, and dies (reiterating the theme of death) after endorsing Fortinbras as the next King of Denmark.

   Sources:

   http://www.enotes.com/hamlet

   http://www.enotes.com/hamlet/act-v-scene-11-analysis

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   Posted by mwestwood on Thursday October 9, 2008 at 10:57 PM
   
   

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